Departments & Courses

This course begins with the New Testament infancy of the church and traces the church’s development through the centuries to the present day. Students examine church governance, images and models as they evolved over the years, and learn how the church understood itself and its mission in the world from the Patristic period to the Second Vatican Council. Students will further study the church as a historical and religious institution partly conditioned by and conditioning the course of Western Civilization, and will reflect on the church’s global role in the contemporary world. Note: this class meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").

Comparative Religions examines the major world religions amid their cultural and historical settings. Eastern faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, and Zoroastrianism are compared and contrasted to Islam, Judaism, and Eastern and Western Christianity. Students examine the major themes and texts of each religion, the experiences of the founders, principal beliefs and branches, and each faith’s festivals and rituals. Christian and non-Christian religious traditions are studied for their common elements as well as for their unique contributions to human self-understanding and the human search for the divine. Note: this course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").

This course examines general ethical principles and their application in real world situations, the formation of a personal conscience, and stages of moral reasoning. In the light of Catholic Christian teachings and their own lived experience, students are challenged to examine individual and societal values and practices. Individually and in collaboration, students analyze the ethical implications of topics including poverty, racism, capital punishment, abortion, technology, warfare and environmental stewardship. As they develop their understanding of human vocation, students reflect on how their values might shape their future life choices and commitments to God, self, family and society.

Note: This course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").

Aristotle tells his son in the Nicomachean Ethics that “Friendship is one of the most indispensable requirements of life, for no one would choose to live without friends.” Wisdom from diverse cultures and spiritual traditions, as well as modern science, confirms Aristotle’s insight that relationships powerfully impact our happiness in life. Besides studying the many types of friendships humans experience and analyzing the ethical dimensions of friendship, students will explore habits of compassion and develop practices to be a better friend.

Note: this course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria (“g”).

The course explores the timeline and events in the rise of Christianity, while developing critical skills and aesthetic vocabulary in order to understand how art was (and is) a vehicle for religious expression. Students will study important historical works of art and will create art in a variety of mediums as they respond to the methods, materials, and styles of those works. As they deepen their ability to perceive and to analyze art, students will be expected to articulate their own artistic opinions.

Note: this course meets UC Visual and Performing Arts criteria ("f") and satisfies SHC’s Theology graduation requirement.

This year-long course introduces ninth graders to the academic study of religion and sacred texts. Students will first gain an understanding of what religion is and why it matters by studying its sociological, philosophical, spiritual, and social justice components. Students will then apply their understanding of different religions and worldviews in a survey of the Hebrew scriptures and the faith development of the Hebrew people. Students will critically read the Old Testament and relate the teachings of the Hebrew people to their own lived experiences, while also developing a foundational understanding of the teachings and values of Catholicism. Throughout the course, students will develop critical thinking skills as they compare and contrast the belief systems, histories, and spiritualities of various religious traditions. Students will explore the role of religion in society and how to animate the social justice principles of the Catholic faith. Multiple viewpoints and voices will be presented to engage and empower students as scholars, researchers, and service-oriented leaders. 

Note: this course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").

The Lasallian/Vincentian Leadership class is for seniors interested in developing their leadership skills through a model of Christian servant leadership. Using the life and writings of the four founders, students will explore and practice their own call to leadership in our community, and build the leadership skills necessary to positively influence their communities in the future. As part of the summative assessment for this course, students serve as leaders at retreats during the school year (and may miss other classes besides Leadership.) Leadership students may be asked to represent the school at off-campus events during the year, and, while not a course requirement, are strongly encouraged to attend a Kairos retreat.

Seniors may enroll in one or both semesters of Lasallian/Vincentian Leadership.

This elective will provide opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of prayer, spirituality, relationships with God and others, and to study the emerging science of mindfulness. The course explores the prosocial practices of mindfulness, gratitude and compassion, integrating traditional contemplative practices from various wisdom traditions with contemporary psychology and scientific research. Students will engage in evidence-based practices to cultivate mindfulness and well-being; they will develop resources for their individual and communal search for God and understanding of the self. Note: this course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria (“g”).

Starting from beliefs in the sacramental nature of life and the metaphorical nature of art, this course will examine various theological ideas as expressed in fiction, poetry and film. Topics include good and evil, sin and grace, suffering and redemption, faith and revelation, and incarnation and sacrament. Students will analyze works of art through the lens of faith and of critical thought, and explore how to apply the lessons learned to their own lives.

This senior selective explores the dynamic and complementary relationship between religion and the natural sciences. Students will critically examine how the Catholic intellectual tradition embraces both faith and reason as valid ways of seeking truth; engage with current scientific developments through the lens of Church teaching; and reflect on the moral and theological implications of humanity’s pursuit of knowledge. By the end of this course, students will be able to: articulate the Catholic Church’s understanding of the compatibility between faith and reason; analyze the theological significance of scientific developments, including cosmology, evolution, and genetics; apply Catholic moral principles to bioethical and environmental issues; evaluate key Church documents and teachings related to science and theology; and demonstrate theological reflection, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue.

This interdisciplinary seminar, incorporating selected writings from classical and contemporary theologians, philosophers, historians, economists, scientists, and artists invites students to converse about and with the Great Works. The seminar format requires rigorous and intense reading, reflection, and writing about primary texts, as well as highly engaged class and online discussions. As students begin to see themselves as responsible for the pursuit of ideas and of the common good, they strengthen their critical literacy and partake in a long humanistic tradition, a vibrant Catholic intellectual heritage, and a rich Lasallian Vincentian educational legacy. A major independent project (“Jan Project”) is required; classes typically meet one evening each week.

Note: This course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g"). Seniors participating in the De Paul Scholar Program are given preference in course placement.

Note: this course includes a summer assignment.

Students will explore the meaning and practice of justice and service by examining contemporary, philosophical and religious theories of justice with emphasis on Catholic social teaching. Each week, students will spend a portion of class time at a service internship site located near SHC; these community service internships augment a reflective understanding of service and a critical analysis of social justice.

This semester-long course explores the question, “Who tells your story?” through a close study of women in the ancient Near East and their roles in their families, religions, and societies. The curriculum invites students to ponder the purpose, audience, and context for storytelling in the historical worldview of patriarchy and in our contemporary context. Students will analyze the contributions women made to the creation and continuation of Judaism and to broader societal standards. Our central question will be, how do we as 21st readers interpret ancient texts about women, and how can we respond to their examples of faith-filled lives?

Note: this class meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").